Introduction
Making a video is easy. Anyone with a smartphone can do it, and there are plenty of apps that make the process even simpler. But making something truly remarkable is a completely different beast. It’s much easier to capture something happenstance than it is to plan out every detail in advance—but what makes for great content? That’s what I’m here for! As someone who has directed several short films over the years, I’ve picked up some tips from my own experiences that have made all the difference in terms of getting my audience involved and making them feel like they’re part of something special. A concept boards can be an inspirational tool for the storyboard artist for improving their work.
Focus on your story.
You can have the best camera, lighting and sound equipment, but if your film doesn’t have a compelling story it’s not going to help you attract leads or drive sales. Before you start shooting, make sure you know exactly what your story is going to be about. Is it something that’s unique? Do people want to watch this kind of content? Are they likely to share it with their friends and family? If not, then why would they watch it on their own time?
If you’re making videos as part of your YouTube channel or online course then there are other things which factor into this equation: What’s your brand voice like? How do people feel when they hear/read/see these messages coming from you? Are those feelings positive or negative (or somewhere in between)? How much do viewers care about what happens next; how engaged are they with each clip; how many times will they come back because there’s always something new every time someone looks around again so every scene matters!
Never start with a script.
We’re not going to lie, it can be tempting to write a script for your video. That way, you don’t have to worry about what will happen on screen or if the story will make sense. But if you want to stand out from the crowd and make the best possible film possible, we highly recommend staying away from scripts.
For one thing, writing a script is hard! And even if you do manage it (and we sincerely hope that you do), it might not fit with how your voice comes across in conversations. This means that even though this piece of paper looks like something worth reading at first glance — maybe even something worth acting out — once it’s done being read aloud by someone who does this for a living (i.e., an actor), it’ll probably come off as stilted and unnatural sounding anyway; which isn’t exactly what anyone wants when they sit down in front of their computer looking forward – hopefully – towards cracking open a beer while watching their favorite show tonight (which happens every night).
If this sounds familiar then don’t worry because there’s another option: just tell stories instead! These days there are wonderful apps like Instagram Stories where all anyone has ever wanted since day one was just simple pictures/videos taken by ourselves or friends using our phones; so try telling those stories instead of worrying about technical details like lines or scenes all day long… trust us when we say that everyone loves hearing good stories told well by whoever happens
Crowdsource to get your audience involved in the process.
Crowdsource to get your audience involved in the process.
- Crowdsource ideas: Why should you listen to me? I’m a filmmaker, but I didn’t write this article by myself. A friend of mine, who is also a filmmaker and runs the blog The Film Collaborative (www.thefilmcollaborative.com), came up with the idea for this piece and pitched it to me; we worked on it together and then posted it on his site so that readers could comment and contribute their own experiences with filmmaking and social media.
- Crowdsource funding: While some filmmakers have found success using Kickstarter or IndieGogo campaigns—and plenty more have turned to private investors—crowdfunding platforms aren’t always accessible or affordable for filmmakers who want to make shorter projects or work outside of traditional channels like studio movies or advertising work but still need money up front for equipment rentals, location fees, actors’ fees…you name it! If you’re interested in asking strangers for money online (which can be scary!), check out some other options like Patreon (www.patreon.com) or Flattr (https://flattr .com/).
- Crowdsource talent: If talented actors are willing to volunteer their time working as crew members on your set because they believe strongly in what you’re doing then go ahead! Bring onboard whoever has skills that match your vision!
Maximize production value to capitalize on your community’s authentic reactions.
You should start by ensuring that your production is polished, professional and high quality. If you have a small budget and are just starting off, it’s important to remember that good quality equipment doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive. In fact, there are many affordable tools on the market right now that will help you achieve stunning results without breaking the bank.
For example:
- Use natural lighting instead of artificial light sources (e.g., lights) whenever possible. The more natural lighting you use in your production, the better it will look for two reasons: 1) Natural light is less harsh than artificial light; and 2) There are fewer shadows on subjects when they’re lit with sunlight or other natural sources of illumination versus from one specific direction at all times like when using an overhead fixture (which produces a shadow).
- Use a tripod with adjustable legs so that you can elevate or lower your camera depending on how tall/short someone might be standing relative to it (and vice versa if it’s not for recording people). This ensures that everyone looks as best as possible without any awkward angles or bad shadows around their face making them appear blurry!
Keep it small at first and build momentum as you go.
If you’re new to the world of film and have never made a video before, it might be tempting to shoot for the stars right away. The idea is that if you start small and build momentum as you go, then by the time your project is complete, it will be much more polished and professional looking than if you had jumped right in with a full crew, expensive equipment and huge production budgets. Here are some tips for creating successful videos when starting out:
- Start with a small team. A good rule of thumb is to limit yourself to three people at first: two (or three) camera operators, one audio guy/gal with boom mic or shotgun mic and two behind the scenes people – one who handles lighting effects in post-production (greenscreen) and another who takes care of making sure there are no mistakes during filming itself – each one responsible for their area alone but also helping out wherever needed.
- Keep scope small at first! Don’t try making an epic tale until after several short projects under your belt because any mistakes made during these smaller projects will help make future ones smoother!
Shoot everything.
When you’re filming, it’s best to shoot everything—even if it seems like a waste of time. You can always edit the footage later, but if you don’t have enough material to work with, your film will suffer.
So shoot from multiple angles and different distances; try new perspectives and locations; shoot at different times of day or year. It doesn’t matter what you’re filming—it just matters that there’s variety in how it looks on screen.
Don’t be afraid to fail.
You might have a great idea for a film, but don’t be afraid to fail. You can’t grow if you don’t try new things and make mistakes. Don’t worry about what other people think—if they only knew how many times I had to delete scenes or re-record audio because my dog thought it was an appropriate time to start barking in the background!
Another thing that helps is sharing your failures with others who are working on similar projects as well as those who have already been through the process and come out on top (like me!). Their wisdom will help you overcome any obstacles in your path. Finally, if something does go wrong during production (and believe me, it will), don’t give up—just ask for help from friends or family members who are willing to lend their expertise!
Don’t let fear keep you from doing what matters most: making videos that inspire others just like yourself…
Making videos is hard, but you can make something truly remarkable if you’re willing to work for it and collaborate with your fans.
You can’t make something great without putting in the work. And as you know, making videos is hard work. But if you’re willing to collaborate with your audience and try new things, there’s a good chance that you’ll create something truly remarkable.
Here are some tips for how to make video content that stands out:
Conclusion
We love making videos, and we want to share our passion with you! You can do it too. Just focus on your story, don’t start with a script, crowdsource your audience’s input, maximize production value through authentic reactions from your community (and record everything!).
Don’t be afraid to fail.
